DOCSLIB.ORG

RELIGIOUS MINORITIES in CYBERSPACE.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
RELIGIOUS MINORITIES in CYBERSPACE.Pdf DEDICATION To those who died while they chanted “Bread, Freedom and Social Justice,” to the martyrs of the Egyptian Revolution who dreamed of a new social contract superseding injustices of the regimes and stupidities of the polarizations I ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Finally, I finished my master's thesis; it is a long journey that I’m happy to make it. This thesis is a step on my road of seeking and sharing knowledge. Passion gave me the energy to continue my work on this thesis and to condense scattered thoughts and experiences. I'm thankful for many people who allowed me to pursue my true passion and finish my thesis. I’m very thankful to my advisor, Dr.Rasha Abdulla, who gave me a chance after the other to learn more and to love what I do. Her academic integrity and efficiency inspire me to do my work and to bear any difficulties. She did not stop me from dreaming, being myself and having my own adventure. At the same time, she guided me smoothly to find my way and avoid research pitfalls. She dealt wisely with my anxiety and confusions during sketching and writing the thesis. Her close observation, editorial help and continuing encouragement made the thesis journey possible and fruitful. I would like to thank my committee members: Dr. Reem Saad for honoring me by accepting to be in my committee. Her academic and personal backgrounds enriched the discussion. Her joyful spirit fostered a good atmosphere for a productive argumentation. Her thorough feedback, despite the short time for reading, was essential and useful to have the final version of my thesis. I’m also so grateful for Dr. Mohammed El Masri; having him in my committee with his experience and knowledge added depth to the discussions. His familiarity with the research topic made his observations detailed and insightful. The valuable critique and challenging comments by both Dr.Saad and Dr. El Masri motivated me to focus and seek methodological consistency. I would like to thank all the experts, activists and journalists I interviewed throughout the thesis for their time and valuable contributions. Their views and information enrich my analysis and better my understanding of the studied topics. I have many professors, mentors and friends whom I would like to show them my gratitude and appreciation. I might not be able to mention all of them, but they are in my heart and my thoughts. I would like to thank the distinguished writer and intellectual Mr. Fahmy Howeidy. He honored me when I was only eighteen by giving me time and advice without even prior personal knowledge. His writings and contributions inspire me in my early life. His advice to attend the culture salon of late great thinker Dr. Abdel-Wahab El-Messiri – may Allah rest his soul in peace - changed my life in different ways. I’m thankful for Dr.Ahmed M. Abdalla. Knowing him was a major turning point in my life. Our activities at the South Group Salon and our endless discussions enlarged my scope and matured my views. His support in my professional and personal life helped me to rediscover myself and others. II I would like to thank my mentor and former manager Mr.Tawfik Ghanem, who inspired me by his soberness, efficiency and his genius managing of human beings. He empowered me and provided me with self-confidence .His good spirit fostered an atmosphere of tranquility in the most difficult circumstances. His creativity motivated me to think out of the box in my personal and professional life. I’m also grateful to my former editor-in-chief Mr. Hesham Gaafar whom I learned from him a lot. His views and analyses enlightened me. His ability to combine between media work and in-depth research inspired me on academic and professional levels. Our discussions and the convergence of our approaches made me contented. I want to thank Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat who provided me with energy and inspirations in my early professional life. She is one of my role models and she has many intellectual and personal values worthy of respect. I would like to thanks all my colleagues and friends with whom I used to work at islamOnline.net. Working at islamOnline.net was one of the most important professional and social experiences in my life. The atmosphere of friendliness and mutual respect was unprecedented. I’m proud of my old friends and colleagues who are currently working in different media organizations and doing their jobs professionally and skillfully. I am MOST thankful for my Mother, Dr. Fawzia Mahmood, for her great help and support throughout my Master’s and my life Her unconditional love encouraged me to proceed on the long road. Despite all the challenges she faced in her life, her own story of success, made me belittle any difficulties in my life. I’m deeply grateful to my father, Dr. Al - Sayed Yousef, for his endless encouragement and great love. His wide culture and insightful views led me to seek knowledge. Our occasional discussions on the topic of my thesis drove me to sharpen my skills. His interest in my progress and success motivated me to finish my work and made him proud of me. I also want to thank my siblings: My sister Amira, her academic accomplishment inspired me to continue my work and her technical advices were really appreciated. I feel very grateful for my Brother Ahmed and my sister –in-law Shoaa for their infinite support and prompt response to my frequent requests of help. Their generosity and caring made me relaxed in many tough situations. Special many thanks are extended to my dearest little sister Yomna for being around whenever I needed her. I could not have finished my work properly without her moral and actual support. She patiently stood by me in many critical moments of facing the tyranny of deadlines :) III I feel gratitude for my extended family, my aunts, uncles and cousins. Their narratives and experiences taught me a lot throughout my life. Their love, support and prayers always bless me. I’m very thankful for my close friend, Lobna Said, who shared with me dreams and supported me in time of frustrations. I'm blessed by her willingness to help me at any time .Her words of wisdom and support are always effective. Many thanks, love and hugs for my little sunshine, my daughter Eshq for being a source for joy and freshness. Her funny comments and smart questions were a nice accompany throughout the journey of my master’s. I’m particularly thankful for my best friend, husband and beloved Belal. He is the owner of the credit. He gave a special taste of love and fun to this long journey. His own mixture of encouragement and sarcasm color my life and make it unique. I’m learning from him a lot without his notice. I liked how, in most cases, he made me face challenges without imposing certain ways of solutions. In short, I’m blessed to have him in my life…Alhamdullah All thanks are due to Allah in the beginning and in the end IV ABSTRACT The study explores how religious minorities can utilize the Internet in handling their hybrid identities and how the different online platforms can reveal the diverse perceptions within the same minority group. The case study qualitative method was adopted. European Muslims and Coptic Christian Egyptians were tackled as major models for analyses. The study brought different historical and conceptual backgrounds to the discussion and tackled the case of the European Muslims by utilizing the researcher’s observations gleaned from her previous experience as an editor of IslamOnline’s European Muslims page, and by conducting descriptive and thematic analyses of selected websites of different European Muslim entities. The study tackled the case of the Egyptian Coptic Christians through conducting both in- depth interviews and thematic analysis of selected websites and Facebook pages. The study showed how both the European Muslims and the Egyptian Coptic Christians encountered the question regarding the circles of affiliation and how they reacted differently to this question while they were managing their online platforms. Despite the disparity among the online platforms studied regarding the levels of vision and content, the study showed how most of these minorities’ online platforms need to develop their discourses and tools in order to address the offline diverse stances. They also need to play a more prominent role in framing issues of citizenship and integration. V TABLE OF CONTENT I.INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………...…………………5 Insider/outsider Binary………………………..................................................................8 II.LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………………………………….......12 A. Historical and Conceptual Background……………….............................................12 B. Minorities Issues between Mainstream and the Internet...........................................25 III.THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ……………………………………...………………35 IV. RESEARCH QUESTIONS & METHODOLOGY………………………….…………44 V. EUROPEAN MUSLIMS IN CYBERSPACE ……………………………………….....50 VI. COPTIC CHRISTIANS IN CYBERSPACE…………………………………………...71 A. In-depth Interview Analysis…………………………………………………………73 B. Copts Online: Descriptive and Thematic Analyses……………..…………………...97 VII. CONCLUSION ………………………………………………………………………135 Limitations & Suggestions…………………………….............................................142 REFERENCES …………………………………………………………….……………….143 APPENDIXES………………………………………………………………………………155 APPENDIX A: INTERVIEW GUIDE …………………………………………………..…155 APPENDIX B: WEBSITES CODE SCHEME …………………………………………….156 APPENDIX C: FACEBOOK PAGES CODE SCHEME ………………………………….159 VI I. Introduction There have been debates whether it was necessary to advise veiled women to take off the hijab in order to maintain their safety [after 9/11], but I insisted that I was not willing to take the risk. I refused to change the way I practice my religion, or to allow fear to stop me from observing my beliefs. If I did this, I would be failing in my duty as a citizen. −− ShelinaJanmohamed, Love in Headscarf: the perfect gift1, 2010 ―Watch out! Do not to go; do not wear a Cross; wear a scarf on your head when you go out; do not pass by the demonstrations; and do not write something on Facebook.‖ All of these things are manifestations of fear and attempt to control others‘ actions by claiming to be concern about them.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Petition To: United Nations Working
    PETITION TO: UNITED NATIONS WORKING GROUP ON ARBITRARY DETENTION Mr Mads Andenas (Norway) Mr José Guevara (Mexico) Ms Shaheen Ali (Pakistan) Mr Sètondji Adjovi (Benin) Mr Vladimir Tochilovsky (Ukraine) HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY COPY TO: UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF OPINION AND EXPRESSION, MR DAVID KAYE; UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY AND OF ASSOCIATION, MR MAINA KIAI; UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, MR MICHEL FORST. in the matter of Alaa Abd El Fattah (the “Petitioner”) v. Egypt _______________________________________ Petition for Relief Pursuant to Commission on Human Rights Resolutions 1997/50, 2000/36, 2003/31, and Human Rights Council Resolutions 6/4 and 15/1 Submitted by: Media Legal Defence Initiative Electronic Frontier Foundation The Grayston Centre 815 Eddy Street 28 Charles Square San Francisco CA 94109 London N1 6HT BASIS FOR REQUEST The Petitioner is a citizen of the Arab Republic of Egypt (“Egypt”), which acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“ICCPR”) on 14 January 1982. 1 The Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt 2014 (the “Constitution”) states that Egypt shall be bound by the international human rights agreements, covenants and conventions it has ratified, which shall have the force of law after publication in accordance with the conditions set out in the Constitution. 2 Egypt is also bound by those principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”) that have acquired the status of customary international law.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Analysis of Civil Society, Media and Conflict
    This is a repository copy of Comparative analysis of civil society, media and conflict. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/117311/ Monograph: Pointer, R, Bosch, T, Chuma, W et al. (1 more author) (2016) Comparative analysis of civil society, media and conflict. Working Paper. MeCoDEM . ISSN 2057-4002 (Unpublished) ©2016 Rebecca Pointer, Tanja Bosch, Wallace Chuma, Herman Wasserman. The Working Papers in the MeCoDEM series serve to disseminate the research results of work in progress prior to publication in order to encourage the exchange of ideas and academic debate. Inclusion of a paper in the MeCoDEM Working Papers series does not constitute publication and should not limit publication in any other venue. Copyright remains with the authors. Reuse Unless indicated otherwise, fulltext items are protected by copyright with all rights reserved. The copyright exception in section 29 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 allows the making of a single copy solely for the purpose of non-commercial research or private study within the limits of fair dealing. The publisher or other rights-holder may allow further reproduction and re-use of this version - refer to the White Rose Research Online record for this item. Where records identify the publisher as the copyright holder, users can verify any specific terms of use on the publisher’s website. Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request.
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Full Report
    HUMAN RIGHTS “Look for Another Homeland” Forced Evictions in Egypt’s Rafah WATCH “Look for Another Homeland” Forced Evictions in Egypt’s Rafah Copyright © 2015 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-62313-2767 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org SEPTEMBER 2015 ISBN: 978-1-62313-2767 “Look for Another Homeland” Forced Evictions in Egypt’s Rafah Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 17 To the Egyptian Government ................................................................................................... 17 To the United States: .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Overview Personal Life Education
    Overview Dr. Ahmed Said is a prominent Egyptian businessman in the IT sector and a leading political figure in Egypt. He was at Tahrir Square ever since the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 started, which led to the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak. Dr. Said was one of the founders, and the first elected president of the Free Egyptians Party (FEP); a party that was founded in April 2011 and is backed by leading business, political, and cultural leaders. The FEP supports the principles of a liberal, democratic, and secular political order in post-Mubarak Egypt. Dr. Said participated in the FEP's political rally that took place among the Maspero demonstrations, which led to the massacre of many protesters. He was among those who were injured and eventually hospitalized. He then won a seat in the Egyptian parliamentary elections of November 2011. And in 2012 he was key in forming the National Salvation Front, an alliance of Egyptian political parties formed to defeat Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s 2012 constitutional declaration. Following Mohamed ElBaradei’s resignation, Dr. Said stepped up as the Front’s secretary-general from July 2013 up until January 2014. In 2014 Dr. Said was elected as vice president to Al Ahly club, the most internationally successful football club in the world. In 2015 Dr. Said won a seat once again representing the Cairo governorate in a newly elected parliament currently serving a five year term as an MP. On the professional level, Dr. Said has extensive experience in planning and management consultancy. His areas of expertise also include local government, decentralization and Management Information Systems Development.
    [Show full text]
  • The Political Aesthetics of Global Protest : the Arab Spring and Beyond, P
    eCommons@AKU Individual Volumes ISMC Series 2014 The olitP ical Aesthetics of Global Protest : the Arab Spring and Beyond Pnina Werbner Editor Martin Webb Editor Kathryn Spellman-Poots Editor Follow this and additional works at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/uk_ismc_series_volumes Part of the African History Commons, Asian History Commons, Islamic World and Near East History Commons, and the Political History Commons Recommended Citation Werbner, P. , Webb, M. , Spellman-Poots, K. (Eds.). (2014). The Political Aesthetics of Global Protest : the Arab Spring and Beyond, p. 448. Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/uk_ismc_series_volumes/3 The Political Aesthetics of Global Protest The Arab Spring and Beyond Edited by Pnina Werbner, Martin Webb and Kathryn Spellman-Poots in association with THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY (International) in the United Kingdom Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations The opinions expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Aga Khan University, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations. © editorial matter and organisation Pnina Werbner, Martin Webb and Kathryn Spellman-Poots, 2014 © the chapters, their several authors, 2014 First published in hardback in 2014 by Edinburgh University Press Ltd The Tun – Holyrood Road 12 (2f) Jackson’s Entry Edinburgh eh8 8pj www.euppublishing.com Typeset in Goudy Oldstyle by Koinonia, Manchester and printed and bound in Spain by Novoprint A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978 0 7486 9334 4 (hardback) ISBN 978 0 7486 9335 1 (paperback) ISBN 978 0 7486 9350 4 (webready PDF) ISBN 978 0 7486 9351 1 (epub) The right of the contributors to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and the Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (SI No.
    [Show full text]
  • Lives of Roman Christian Women 1St Edition Download Free
    LIVES OF ROMAN CHRISTIAN WOMEN 1ST EDITION DOWNLOAD FREE Carolinne White | 9780141441931 | | | | | Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Cecilia rated it liked it Jun 05, Carl Alasko Ph. Penguin 85th by Jackie Morris. East—West Schism Massacre of the Lives of Roman Christian Women 1st edition. Product Details. To those in charge of the sacrifices of the village Theadelphia, from Aurelia Bellias, daughter of Peteres, Lives of Roman Christian Women 1st edition her daughter Kapinis. Lives of Roman Christian Women 1st edition to Eusebius, a persecution undertaken by Maximinus against heads of the church in sent both Hippolytus and Lives of Roman Christian Women 1st edition Pontian into exile on Sardinia. Subscription failed, please try again. Galerius Maximus : "Are you Thascius Cyprianus? About the Author. WA: Mascarat. Certain schisms, like those of the Donatists in North Africa and the Melitians in Egypt, persisted long after the persecutions: only after would the Donatists be reconciled to the church to which in Emperor Theodosius I reserved the title of "catholic". Part of a series on. New Softcover Quantity Available: 1. Kenneth Koch. United Kingdom. When you buy a book, we donate a book. This book is not yet featured on Listopia. What else are they than fighters against God? When rumor seemed about to expose his fraud, the witty essayist reports in his scathing essay. However, it has been argued that in context, the institutum Neronianum merely describes the anti-Christian activities; it does not provide a legal basis for them.
    [Show full text]
  • (SAPE) Feeling Images: Subjectivities and Af
    The American University in Cairo Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology and Egyptology (SAPE) Feeling Images: Subjectivities and Affective Experience in the Egyptian Revolution A Thesis Submitted to The Department of Sociology-Anthropology In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree of Master of Arts By Brice James Woodcock Under the Supervision of Dr. Lamia Bulbul (AUC) First Reader: Dr. Mohamed Tabishat (AUC) Second Reader: Dr. Mark Westmoreland (AUC) February 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to thank many people for their assistance in the completion of this project, without which it would certainly not have been possible. Many thanks to my supervisor, Dr. Lamia Bulbul, for her dedication and personal investment. She contributed invaluable practical direction, tireless enthusiasm, and knowledge of Egypt. I am indebted to my readers, Dr. Mohamed Tabishat and Dr. Mark Westmoreland, for their guidance and keen scholarly insight. I would also like to thank Dr. Amy Austin-Holmes for her help and encouragement in the early stages of this project, as well as Dr. Helen Rizzo for the advice that she kindly extended on numerous occasions. My partners in the creation of this thesis were the fourteen participants who contributed their time and energy to represent what they believed in. I must also thank the many other Egyptians who welcomed me into their country and patiently showed me the language and culture of my new home. I also want to thank Stephen Urgola, Carolyn Runyon, and the rest of the “AUC University on the Square” project for providing me with the inspiration for this thesis. Finally, and most importantly, I would like to extend my gratitude to my soul mate, Taylor Bryanne, for her wholehearted assistance at every step of this process.
    [Show full text]
  • Obscure and Stalled the Democratic Path in Egypt 2014
    Obscure and Stalled The Democratic Path in Egypt 2014 The Arabic Network For Human Rights Information Title: Obscure & Stalled The Democratic Path in Egypt 2014 Published by: ANHRI - The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information 2 Behlar Passage, Off Kasr El Nil St. - 5th Floor Flat no. 39 - Downtown, Cairo Tel/Fax : 23904208 / 23964180 Website : www.anhri.net e-mail : [email protected] Prepared by: Karim Abdelrady Documentation by Lawyers for Democracy Team: Ahmed Abdel Latif Mohammed Hafez Mahmoud Labib Mohammed Ramadan Ehab Hassan Emad Abu El Leil Aya Abdel-Al Nayera El Sayed Mahmoud Hassan Edited & Revised by: Gamal Eid Translated by: Ramy Rostom & Tereasa Shehata Cover Photo by: Ahmed Hamed – Aswat Masreya Cover Design & Technical Preparation by: Hussein Mohammed & Karim Abdelrady First Edition: 2015 Deposit No. : 4741/2015 The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information © All Rights Reserved This copy is for non-commercial use only 2 Introduction:1 This is the annual report that is released by Lawyers for Democracy Initiative, which was launched by The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information in 2014; aiming at monitoring the state of Egypt’s democratic path and determining its developments and shortcomings. The year 2014 was full of significant and influential political incidents. The repressive and extraordinary measures that have been taken by the Egyptian authorities in the wake of dispersing the sit-ins staged by the MB supporters in Rabaa Al-Adawiya in 2013 were the start to enacting a set of anti-freedoms legislations; aiming at hindering the general climate completely and confiscating the rights to peaceful protest and any political action inside the universities.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rab'a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt
    H U M A N R I G H T S ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN The Rab’a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt WATCH All According to Plan The Rab’a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt Copyright © 2014 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-62313-1661 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org AUGUST 2014 978-1-62313-1661 All According to Plan The Rab’a Massacre and Mass Killings of Protesters in Egypt Map .............................................................................................................................................. I Summary and Key Recommendations ........................................................................................... 1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 1968: Memories and Legacies of a Global Revolt
    Bulletin of the German Historical Institute Supplement 6 | 2009 1968: Memories and Legacies of a Global Revolt 5 Introduction: 1968 from Revolt to Research Philipp Gassert and Martin Klimke THE AMERICAS 27 Argentina: The Signs and Images of “Revolutionary War” Hugo Vezzetti 33 Bolivia: Che Guevara in Global History Carlos Soria-Galvarro 39 Canada: 1968 and the New Left Dimitri Roussopoulos 47 Colombia: The “Cataluña Movement” Santiago Castro-Gómez 51 Mexico: The Power of Memory Sergio Raúl Arroyo 57 Peru: The Beginning of a New World Oscar Ugarteche 63 USA: Unending 1968 Todd Gitlin 67 Venezuela: A Sociological Laboratory Félix Allueva ASIA & AUSTRALIA 73 Australia: A Nation of Lotus-Eaters Hugh Mackay 79 China: The Process of Decolonization in the Case of Hong Kong Oscar Ho Hing-kay 83 India: Outsiders in Two Worlds Kiran Nagarkar 89 Japan: “1968”—History of a Decade Claudia Derichs 95 Pakistan: The Year of Change Ghazi Salahuddin 99 Thailand: The “October Movement” and the Transformation to Democracy Kittisak Prokati AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST 105 Egypt: From Romanticism to Realism Ibrahim Farghali 111 Israel: 1968 and the “’67 Generation” Gilad Margalit 119 Lebanon: Of Things that Remain Unsaid Rachid al-Daif 125 Palestinian Territories: Discovering Freedom in a Refugee Camp Hassan Khadr 129 Senegal: May 1968, Africa’s Revolt Andy Stafford 137 South Africa: Where Were We Looking in 1968? John Daniel and Peter Vale 147 Syria: The Children of the Six-Day War Mouaffaq Nyrabia 2 1968: MEMORIES AND LEGACIES EASTERN EUROPE 155 Czechoslovakia:
    [Show full text]
  • Closed on Security Grounds
    Closed on security grounds Sectarian tensions and attacks resulting from the construction and renovation of churches Closed on security grounds Sectarian tensions and attacks resulting from the construction and renovation of churches First edition November 2017 Designed by Mohammed Gaber Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights 14 al Saray al Korbra St., Garden City, Al Qahirah, Egypt. Telephone & fax: +(202) 27960197 - 27960158 www.eipr.org - [email protected] All printing and publication rights reserved. This report may be redistributed with attribution for non-profit pur- poses under Creative Commons license. www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0 Ishak Ibrahim, a researcher and officer for EIPR’s freedom of religion and belief program, is the lead author of this report. Research intern Mohammed Medhat contributed to the second annex on the proposed standards for the church construction law. Amr Abd al-Rahman, the director of the civil liberties unit, edited the report, and Ahmed al-Shabini proofread the text. Closed on security grounds Introduction In August 2016, the House of Representatives adopted Law 80/2016 on the construction of church- es to fulfill the terms of Article 235 of the 2014 Constitution, which required the House to issue a law regulating the construction of churches in its first session. While the law was under debate in Parliament, the EIPR launched a campaign entitled “Closed on Security Grounds” in an attempt to draw attention to the most significant hurdles to Egyptian Coptic citizens’ exercise of their right to religious practice and worship—most notably, the administrative and security complications in- volved in the construction of churches.
    [Show full text]
  • Civil Society and EU Strategies in Egypt
    Working Papers No. 16, July 2018 In Search of a More Efficient EU Approach to Human Rights: Civil Society and EU Strategies in Egypt Jane Moonrises and Malafa Zenzzi This project is founded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme for Research and Innovation under grant agreement no 693055. Working Papers No. 16, July 2018 In Search of a More Efficient EU Approach to Human Rights: Civil Society and EU Strategies in Egypt Jane Moonrises and Malafa Zenzzi1 Abstract This report aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the EU’s strategy to promote human rights and democracy in Egypt. Largely based on instruments devised within the framework of the EMP and ENP, the EU wishfully counted on a spill-over effect from trade to political reform as well as onto actors’ socialization. This strategy fell prey to Mubarak’s “carrot-and-stick” approach to the nascent NGO sector and its adjusted policy discourse that resonated with Brussels. Drawing upon Mubarak’s mistakes, the post-Revolution regime morphed into an overtly repressive apparatus designed to “kill” civil society and prevent a new 25 January. In this context, is engaging at all costs in political dialogue relevant? Did the EU foreign policy manage to follow suit with Egypt’s political evolution? How can the EU draw upon its past mistakes to craft a more efficient approach to human rights? How can the EU’s economic and political leverage be best used? Introduction Egypt’s grim human rights and democracy record is deeply rooted in the regime’s ability to adjust to ever-changing circumstances.
    [Show full text]